Berkshire Natural Resources Council Basin Pond

Becket Road, Lee, MA

About Basin Pond

Nestled within the town of Lee is Basin Pond, a beautiful landscape with hiking trails that provides habitat for countless animal species. At Basin Pond, an easy to moderately challenging 2.5-mile hike will take visitors across streams and through a natural boulder field, where children can enjoy climbing and bouncing around in the large, natural amphitheater. The well-maintained trail passes through an ancient forest of towering hemlocks, oaks, and other hardwood trees native to Western Massachusetts, as well as vibrantly colored ferns and other underbrush on the forest floor. Hikers have two routes to choose from, both of similar difficulty and length, to reach the clandestine Basin Pond. The pond is a perfect habitat for many animals, and moose and beaver are commonly spotted, along with various species of birds. Basin Pond is an excellent, family-friendly hiking spot in the Berkshires.

The beavers living in the pond have constructed large dams reminiscent of the industrial dams that used to be present at Basin Pond. The first dam was built in 1873 by East Lee mill owners, and the second in 1965 to create a resort community. First called Mud Pond, then Lake Lee in the 1960s, and now Basin Pond, this area has lots of interesting history. Currently, the only dams on the pond are natural beaver dams, reinforcing its preservation under the BRPC.